Read Online Marked: A Vampire Blood Courtesans Romance by Michelle Fox, Gwen Knight - Free Book Online

she’d even commented it would increase the price of my blood, being untasted. Not to mention, he knew I wasn’t an experienced courtesan. So why did Ethen have a disgruntled look on his face?
    The thought of his fangs that close to my throat sent my heart fluttering.
    “Easy,” he murmured, though darkness slipped behind his eyes, proof he could hear my heartbeat. “I knew you were a novice, but I didn’t realize you were a blood virgin. It’s good that I know,” he continued, his words at war with his expression. Clearing his throat, the darkness faded from his eyes and he gestured toward the kitchen. “Perhaps change out of your dress and meet in the kitchen in ten minutes. Yes?”
    “Y—Yes.”
    He inclined his head, then turned and made his way back toward the kitchen.
    Looked like I was popping a different cherry tonight, and it was going to be bloody.
     

Chapter 7
    I stood in the middle of my bedroom, growling under my breath as I considered ripping the damn dress off. It had taken a team of stylists to stuff me into this contraption. One set of hands wasn’t going to be enough to get me out. As it was, the long line of satin buttons running down the length of my back was impossible to reach.
    Just my luck.
    I reached into my bag and pulled out my cell phone. Three missed texts from Tessa, all worried and wondering how I was managing. The obvious concern in her messages reminded me that I was here for a reason: to charm the pants off Ethen Rune and use the substantial fee to pay off Alexei. That meant convincingly playing the role of the courtesan.
    Wants to feed. Tips? I texted Tessa.
    It took a moment before she responded. He won’t hurt you. Stay calm, confident, and trust him .
    Trust a vampire? I wanted to laugh. A vampire was why we were in this mess. My phone vibrated a second time. Not all are like Calix .
    This time, I did laugh. Of course, she’d known where my thoughts had wandered to. Trust my best friend to understand my head better than me.
    I tapped in a quick wish me luck , then slid my phone back into my bag.
    My ten minutes were up. I lifted my head high and exited my room. The walk to the kitchen seemed endless, but I took that time to settle my nerves. He won’t hurt you , Tessa had said. I had to take her word on that; she had far more experience in these matters than I did. Not that her recent experiences helped convince me.
    The warm scent of pizza teased my nose, distracting me from my impending night. I followed it into the kitchen and paused at the door when I caught sight of Ethen. He stood with his back to me, his crisp white sleeves folded up to his elbows, and his suit jacket draped across one of the stools. Somehow, I knew this was a rare sight. From what I’d gathered, Ethen lived in a world of his own making, one he rarely shared with others. So, I took this opportunity to relish in the view. There was something delectable about watching a man preparing a meal in a kitchen. I leaned against the door frame and observed, a smile crossing my lips.
    With his senses, he had to have known I was there. But rather than immediately greeting me, he first finished unloading the pizza onto a plate before turning. “Please, sit.”
    I contemplated the tall chair with a twisted mouth. Bar stools and evening dresses didn’t generally go hand in hand. Nor was I in the mood to embarrass myself further by struggling to get my ass onto it. On the other hand, my feet ached from an entire night of heels, and the last thing I wanted to do was lean over the counter while eating.
    I was nibbling my bottom lip and contemplating my plan of attack when two large hands grasped my waist, spun me around, and lifted me up onto the stool without so much as a word. Stunned, I stared up at Ethen, my gaze catching his.
    He stood so close, his thighs braced between mine, his fingers lingering beneath my breasts. My breath caught as heat spilled through my body and my stomach clenched with anticipation.